Monks Have Compassionate Hearts

"Although the Fourth Mizukage's genjutsu has been dispelled, you are still publicly considered a traitor who attempted to assassinate the Mizukage. To protect the Hidden Mist Village's reputation, they will not call off their pursuit of you.

"But you needn't worry about that. As your companion in the organization, I'll help you conceal your identity.

"Likewise, if you truly want to return someday and seize the position of Mizukage, I can help with that too—especially by providing financial support."

Li Chuan clapped his hands and rose to his feet.

Zabuza also stood up from the ground, carrying the Executioner's Blade. He stared at Li Chuan for a long while before finally speaking.

"What do you need us to do?"

There was no such thing as a free lunch. The other party had provided intelligence, treatment, returned the Executioner's Blade, and offered them all kinds of assistance. How could he possibly want nothing in return?

"We're companions. This little bit of help is nothing. If you're willing, then in a few days, help me kill Gato. As long as he's around, even if the bridge is repaired, the people of the Land of Waves won't have an easy life.

"A monk should be compassionate. I cannot bear to see people suffer!"

Li Chuan put on a sorrowful, compassionate expression, making both Zabuza and Haku twitch their mouths.

He then tossed Haku and Zabuza tokens engraved with the characters for white and black.

"These are tokens of our organization. Take them to any Chuan Ji shop in any town within the Land of Fire, and you'll be received. You can go recuperate in a nearby town first. I'll notify you when it's time to act."

Not long after returning to the Naruto world this time, he had instructed Kino to have the merchant caravan establish shops in every town throughout the Land of Fire, all named Chuan Ji.

On the surface, they were ordinary general stores, normally assisting the merchant caravan with its business. In reality, secret rooms had been built underground for hiding and recuperating.

Their funds were still not particularly abundant. Once he took over Gato's company and swallowed the commercial profits of the entire Land of Waves, he would establish stores in every other country as well, expanding operations and assisting with intelligence gathering.

General stores, hotels, inns, brothels, hot springs, and more—diversified, comprehensive development.

"How many members does our organization currently have?"

After putting away the token, Zabuza asked Li Chuan, who was preparing to leave.

Li Chuan pointed at Zabuza and Haku, then at himself.

"At present, there are only three official members: the three of us. I'll recruit more depending on the circumstances in the future. Of course, if you have any good candidates, you can recommend them to me."

With that, he did not linger any longer and quickly departed.

Only after Li Chuan's figure had completely vanished did Haku speak to Zabuza.

"Lord Zabuza, are we really going to join his organization?"

He had a favorable impression of Li Chuan, but only so long as it did not involve Zabuza's will. If Zabuza told him to kill Li Chuan, he would still act entirely according to Zabuza's will.

Zabuza rested the Executioner's Blade on his shoulder.

"There's no downside for us anyway. And that Gato—if not for the money, and for keeping those annoying pursuit squads from coming after us again, I would've killed him long ago.

"A mere ordinary man, daring to order me around."

He knew Li Chuan wanted to use him, but hadn't he also wanted to use Li Chuan? At the very least, he truly wanted to know which bastard had used genjutsu to control Yagura back then.

Meanwhile, after settling matters with Zabuza and Haku, Li Chuan returned to the site of the initial battle. Following the traces Naruto and the others had left when they departed, he soon tracked down Tazuna's home.

"Big Brother Chuan!"

Sakura was wringing out a towel by the door. The moment she saw Li Chuan, her face lit up with surprise.

Just moments ago, she had been worrying whether Li Chuan would be in danger chasing after Zabuza and that boy. After all, as Zabuza's companion, that boy was surely no weakling.

"It's Sakura. Where is Mr. Kakashi?"

"Teacher Kakashi fainted after you left. He still hasn't woken up."

Sakura replied worriedly.

Unlike Sasuke and Naruto, aside from being an outstanding student, Sakura's strength was about the same as that of ordinary ninja her age. She was a perfectly normal newly graduated Genin.

So after witnessing Kakashi and Zabuza's battle at the level of elite ninja, she had been deeply frightened.

"Looks like he was injured during his fight with Zabuza. This humble monk knows a little Medical Ninjutsu and should be able to help."

Li Chuan smiled reassuringly.

Sakura's face immediately brightened. She dropped the towel and led Li Chuan to the room where Kakashi was resting.

Besides Naruto and Sasuke, Tazuna and his family were also in the room. When they saw Li Chuan enter, Naruto immediately asked, "Big Brother Chuan, did you catch up to Zabuza and the others?"

Although Sasuke said nothing, he perked up his ears as well, clearly very concerned about the answer.

"To my shame, I did catch up to them. But that boy was very strong and knew some unusual ninja techniques. This humble monk couldn't keep him there, and he even stole the scroll sealing that blade from me."

Li Chuan shook his head, then changed the subject.

"Never mind that. Let's treat Mr. Kakashi first!"

With that, he crouched down and began using the Palm Sage Technique on several of Kakashi's wounds.

"Mr. Kakashi's external injuries aren't serious. His main problem is that he used too much Chakra and his body has been overstrained. A few days of rest should be enough for him to recover."

"Damn it! He isn't even that much older than us, but he's already so strong! I have to train even harder!"

Hearing that even Li Chuan, who was so strong, had been unable to defeat that boy, Naruto clenched his teeth and shouted. Compared to that boy, he felt like complete trash.

Sasuke, sitting there with a cold expression, clenched his fists tightly as well. For the first time, the ever-proud him felt that he was not much stronger than Naruto.

Just then, Kakashi woke from unconsciousness. Hearing Naruto's words, he could not help but reach out and rest a hand on his head.

"There are ninja in this world who aren't much older than you, yet are even stronger than I am. Train hard!"

He thought of his former subordinate from his days in the Anbu—Sasuke's older brother, the Konoha S-rank rogue ninja who had slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan by himself, Uchiha Itachi.

"That young man is three or four years older than you. By the time you reach his age, you'll definitely be stronger than him. As for this humble monk, I'm already twenty, eight years older than you. By the time you reach this age, you'll all surely become powerful ninja renowned throughout the ninja world."

Li Chuan smiled and offered his own consolation.

In truth, he was not merely comforting them, because it was a fact. If things developed according to the plot, the two of them would become the strongest ninja in the ninja world before even reaching twenty.

Brother Chuan is so gentle—and so handsome. If only he weren't a monk, and were a little younger.

Sakura looked at Li Chuan and thought to herself.

Then she turned to look at Sasuke, who was still acting cool nearby, and her cheeks instantly flushed red.

Come to think of it, Sasuke and I are still the best match. By the time we're both twenty, will we already have a baby?